Typewriting machine



Jam. 23, H923.

H. E. BRIDGWATER. TYPEwRx TING MACHINE. Fl LED APR.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 (L11/wankel WITNEEEES f M w Patented Jan. 23, i923.

vnasse saar serena HERBERT E. IIBRIIDGWATER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTGN l TYPEWRITER COMPANY, 015' ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPGRTION 0F NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,732.

To all rwhom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. BRIDG- warnn, citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the cgunty of Onondaga and State of New ork, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification. n

vMy invention relates to typewnting machines and more particularly to case shift mechanism.

The main object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide simple and efficient case shift mechanism which will assure a proper positioning and alignment ot the platen.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, arrangements of parts and combinations of devices, set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherem like reference characters indicate' corresponding parts in the different views,

Figure 1 is a vertical Afore-and-aft sectional view of the machine with parts om1tted, the section being taken on the: line 1-1 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 2 is a like view of the same, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view showing the means for connecting the bracket to the carriage support, the section being taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the 40 arrows at said line.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine with parts omitted.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail side view showing a modified form of projection on the shift lever 58.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view of the connection between the shift link and bracket, the section being taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line. i

l have shown my invention embodied in a Remington portable machine, many of the features of which are disclosed in the following patents: Smith A. lV., 1,342,513, June 8. 1920; Holden J. 13;, 1,386,256, Aug. 2, 1921; Holden J. B., 1,386,111, Aug. 2, 1921. It should bev understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in other styles of machines.

It is customary in some case shift mechanisms to actuate the shifted part or frame by applying power derived from-a shift key (usually located Aat a side of the machinel to one or both sides of the fore-and-aft median plane which passes through the printing point. ln such machines it may result that. both ends of the platen, if the platen be the shifted part, are not shifted to equal extents, especially if the shift frame and the parts through which motion is transmitted thereto, are of comparatively light construction and are not sufficiently rigid throughout to withstand distortion.' If, for example, the force applied from a shift key and exerted to one side of the center of the machine should cause ,a stop at that side to reach its co-acting stop before the stops at the other side of t-he machine are brought into (zo-operation, this might result in a greater extent of shift of, say, the platen-at one end thereof than at the other.

By my present invention these defects could not result, yet l am enabled to construct the mechanism in the main from comparatively light sheet metal and no complicating adjustments are required to assure a proper shift as will hereinafter more clearly appear. lt will he understood that this is a great advantage, especially in portable machines, wherein it is desirable to construct thel parts as light as possible without sacrificing strength, durability or eiliciency of operation.

l have shown only so much of the Remington portable machine as is necessary to arrive at an understanding of my invention in its inclusion therein. The frame of the machine comprises an inner sheet metal frame having side plates 1 fixedly connected together by a hollow cross bar 2, a comb plate 3. and other parts which need not be described. This frame with the working parts mounted therein is contained within. and detachably fixed to, a surrounding sheet metal frame 4.

A cylindrical platen 5 is mounted to turn in end plates 6 secured to a sheet metal bed plate 7 of the carriage. The carriage is constructed and mounted on a case shift frame for bodily case shifting movement therewith fore-and-aft of the machine as disclosed in thehereinbefore mentioned Fatent 1,386,256. Thus the bed plate 7 of the carriage has its edge portions bent to form ,l

bearings or ways 8 and 9 respectively, in which crossed bearing rollers 10 are received. These rollers also are received in companion ways 11 and 12 respectively formed in sheet metal plates secured to the cast 'aluminum carriage support 13. This casting has depending ears or lugs 14 near the ends thereof which are slotted to receive the upper ends of parallel substantially upright supporting arms 15 arranged beneath the carriage and pivoted at 16 to the lugs. 14. vThe lower ends of the arms are fixed on a rock shaft 17 mounted at its reduced ends 18 in bearing openings in the side plates 1. The carriage support 13 is detachably secured near its ends by screws 19 to horizontally disposed iianges 20 that are vintegral with and project inwardly from two vertically disposed sheet metal members 21. These members extend longitudinally fore-and-aft of the machine from the rear to the front thereof, and are pivoted at their forward ends, as at 22, to substantially upright parallel arms or links 23. The upper ends of the links 23 are supported on pivot pins 24 that are fixed to and project inwardly from the side plates 1 of the frame; cotter pins 25 preventing an accidental detachment of the links from the pins. qThe carriage support 13 and the united sheet metal side members 21 constitute a shift frame, wholly supported on the frame of the machine by the parallel arms 15 and 23 for bodily movement, and on which a carriage is mounted for bodily case shifting movement therewith foreandaft of the machine, from the Fig. 2 to the Fig. 1 position. This brings the platen into position to receive the imprint of upper case types on the rearwardly and downwardly striking type bars not shown, but which are disclosed in the hereinbefore mentioned Patent No. 1,342,513. Vhen the platen is in the Fig. 2 position the lower case types strike the printing point.

Suitable stops are employed to limit the case shifting movements of the case shift frame in both directions, the stops shown being somewhat similar to those disclosed in the above mentioned Patent 1,386,111. Thus'a sheet metal stop 26 is'secured at 27 to each side member 21 of the shift frame, and each stop 26 coacts with adjustable stops 28 and 29 arranged on opposite sides thereof. A pair of stops 28 and 29 are attached to each side plate l of the frame, being adjustable around their respective pivotal connections 30 and 31 and held in adjusted position by headed screws 32.

Each flange 20 of the shift frame iswprovided with an integral depending ear eo to which one end of a contractilespring 34 is attached, the opposite end of each'spring being connected ,to a pin 35 which extends inwardly vfrom the side plate 1 of the frame. The force of these springs is exerted to return the shift frame and parts carried thereby to normal position, shown in Fig. 2.

The construction thus far described is similar to that employed in the Remmington portable machine and disclosed in the patents hereinbefore referred to.

In order to control the movement of the shift frame I employ the following key ac tuated connections: A sheet metal 'bracket 36 is secured by headed screws 37 that pass through openings in thecarriage support 13 (see Fig. 3), eachh screw engaging an interiorly threaded iron or steel bushing 38 that is serrated on its periphery, as indicated at 39, and is seatediirmly against turning movement in a countersunk open ing in the upper side of the carriage support. The dotted line a in Fig. 4 indicates the fore-and-aft median plane of the machine -which passes through the printing point. It will be observed from this ligure that the bracket 36 is located near this line. A sheet metal link 40 is bent or turned at 41 so that the rear end portion is disposed in a horizontal plane, whereas that portion of the link forward of the bendv is disposed in a vertical plane. The rear end` of the link is connected by a suitable pivotal connection to the bracket 36. In the present instance this pivotal connection is formed as shown in detail in Fig. 6, by riveting a bushing 42 to the link, as indicated at 43. This bushin is tapped interiorly to receive the stem of aiieaded screw 44. The rounded periphery 45 of the bushing receives a bearing 1nthe opening in the bracket 36, thus connecting the link and bracket and enabling the link to receive a slight up and down as well as a sidewise play around the Joint where it is connected to the bracket. l`he forward end of the link 4() is pivoted at 46 tok an upright crank arm 47, the hub 48 of which is xed to a rock shaft 49. This shaft extends from side to side of the machine and receives a bearing at its ends in the side plates 1 of the frame. It will be seen that'the arm 47 is located substantially midway of the length of the shaft 49 and substantially at the center of the machine indicated by the line 0,. The link extends longitudinally fore-and-aft of the machine between its point of pivotal connection with the shift frame and said arm 47 and in a plane substantially at the center of the machine, so that motion transmitted from said rock shaft to the shift frame is exerted on the latter substantially in the fore-and-aft median plane of the machine,

afiliarse whereas the arresting stops for the shift frame are arranged upon o posite sides of said plane, for-.purposes which will hereinafter more clearly appear. f

Motion is transmitted to the rock shaft by` suitable mea-ns, those shown herein being found to be effective in practice. At the right-hand side of the machine is a shift lever 50 pivoted at 51 to a fixed part of the machine and provided with a shift key 52. A depending arm or projection 53 is formed on said lever and has a lower slightly inclined contact edge 54. This edge overlies an anti-friction roller 55 mounted on a headed stud 55al that projects inwardly from a crank arm 56. This arm has its hubv 57 fixed to the rock shaft 49 near one'end thereof, the arm projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the shaft. Depression of the shift key 52 is effective to depress the arm 56, thus rocking the shaft 49 and causing the arm 47 to move from the Fig. 2 to the Fig. 1 position and effect acci-responding shift of the shift frame and carriage.

I prefer to employ a second corresponding shift lever 58 at the opposite side of the mavchine provided with a case shift key 59 and pivoted to afxed part of the machine at 60. This lever has a depending projection 61 that coacts with an anti-friction roller 62 carried by a headed stud 62 that projects in from an upwardly and rearwardly extending crank arm 63 secured by its hub 64 to the rock shaft 49. The operation of this shift lever is like the lever 50 at the opposite side of the machine, each lever operating independently of the other to shift the parts in the same direction. Each lever 50; and 58 has one end of'a spring 65 connected thereto, the opposite end of each spring being connected to an inwardly extending prolongation of the associate pivot 30. Each of these springs returns its companion shift key lever to normal position and holds it 1n such po-l acts therewith to limit the pivotal movement of the lever 67 back to normal position relatively to the lever 58; such return movement being effected by a spring 70. The depending arm of the lever 67 is provided with a hook-like engaging portion 71fadapted to engage under the lower edge 72 offa locking plate 73 secured to the frame in front of the comb plate 3. When the carriage is shifted by depressing the key 68 the engaging portion 71 will be forced beneath the edge 72 of the locking late and'hold the carriage in its shifted position. Pressure exerted on the key 59 is effective to release the locked lever 67 from restraint, and its spring 70 is then effective to return it to normal position relatively to the lever'58 and thus release the locked lever 67 and enable the carriage to return to normal position when the operator releases the key 59.

I prefer to employ a depending projection 53 of the character shown in Fig. 2 on the right-hand case shift lever 50, and to use a projection such as is indicated at 6l in Figs. l and 5 on the left-hand shift key lever 58. This is in order to provide for a slight bendmg adjustment of the projection 53 if necessary, but prevent machine assemblers or repairmen in the field from making a like adjustment of the projection 61, since an adjustment of the latter might interfere with the proper co-operation between the engaglng portion 7l of thecas'e shift lock lever and its co-acting locking plate 73. I may, however, employ either form of projections 53 or 61 on both shift levers.

It will be understood that by transmitting a shifting movement to the shift frame, by powerlapplied thereto centrally of said frame and centrally of the machine, there is no tendency to distort or skew the frame or move one side thereof in advance of the other, no matter how light the structure of the shift frame may be. By the central transmission of power thus applied, the shift frame may be brought to rest against the stops at opposite sides of the center of the machine and the shifting force is applied equally against the stops at both sides to maintain the platen properly aligned'and positioned when shifted. This enables me to employ without disadvantage comparatively light stock in the structure by which the carriage is supported and mounted for case shifting movement, and by which such movement of the carriage is effected.

The rockv shaft 49 being comparatively light and extending as it does from side tol side of the machine, I prefer to provide an additional support therefor intermediate its ends to resist the strain to which it is subjected. Thus I attach a sheet metal bracket arm 75 by a. screw 76 to the fixed hollow cross bar 2, about midway in the length thereof. This bracket arm extends forwardly beneath and up in front of rock shaft 49, and is shaped to receive and support the shaft at the under side and front thereof. This resists any tendency of the shaft to be flexed or bent in rocking it and enables me to employ a comparatively light shaft.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple construction, and one which in use has proved effective.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case shift frame supported wholly by parallel arms oli the fra-me of the ma-- chine for bodily case shifting movement fore-and-aft thereof, and means separate and distinct from the supporting means of the case shift frame fon shifting it, said means including a. rock shaft that extends transversely of the machine lfrom side, to side thereof, a link that extends fore-and-aft of the machine about centrally thereof and is connected at one end with the shift frame and at its other end with said rock shaft, a shift key at one side of the machine, a second shift key at the other side of the machine, and means whereby each of said keys is effective by a movement independently of the other to rock said shaft in the same direction.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case shift frame, two pairs of parallel arms by which said frame is wholly supported Jfor bodily case shifting movement on the frame of the machine, a rock shaft that extends transversely of the machine from side to Aside thereof, a crank arm on said shaft, a link arranged substantialy in the fore-and-aft median plane of the machine and connected at one end with said shift frame and at .its other end with said crank arm, two case shift keys at opposite sides of the machine, and means whereby either key is effective to rock the shaft in the same direction and transmit a' centrally directed force to move the shifty frame.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case shift frame, two pairs of parallel arms by which said frame is wholly supported for case shifting movement on the frame of the machine, a rock sha-ft that extends transversely of the machine, a crank' arm on said shaft, a link arranged substantially in the fore-and-aft median plane of the machine and connected at one end with said shift frame and at its other end with said crank arm, two additional operating crank arms on said shaft" one near each end thereof, two key actuated shift levers, one near each side of the machine, and an intervening anti-friction roller between each of said shift levers and the companion operating crank arm. Y

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a case shift frame that extends forev chine between sai substantially upright arms by which the Ashift frame is supported at the front end thereof on the frame of the machine, a second pair of substantially upright parallel arms by which said shift frame is supported at the rear end thereof on the frame of the machine, a rock shaft that extends transversely of the machine, a link that extends fore-and-aft of the machine substantially in the median plane thereof and which is operatively connected at one end to said shift frame and atthe other end to said shaft, a pair of operating crank arms von said shaft one near each end thereof, two key actuated case shift levers arranged near opposite sides of the machine, and an intervening anti-friction rollerbetween `each of said levers and the companion operating crank arm. on the rock shaft.

5. In a type'writing machine, the combina tion of a, case shift frame mounted for movement fore-and-aft of the machine, stops at opposite sides of the center of the machine for arresting said frame, a carriage wholly supported by said shift frame, a rock shaft beneath said carriage, upwardly directed arms on said rock shaft which are pivoted to said shift frame and support it at the rear end thereof on the frame of themachine, upright parallelarms which support the shift vframe at its forward end on the frame of the machine, a second rock shaft near the front of the machine, a crank arm on said last mentioned rock shaft, a link arranged substantially centrally of the macrank arm and shift frame, two additionalk crank arms on said second rock4 shaft one near each end therof,two shift key levers one near each, side of the machine, and an anti-friction roller between each of said shift levers and the associated additional crank arm on the second rock shaft.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Ononda a, and State of New York, this 13 day of ril, A. D; 1922. j

`H 41IRBIER'I E. BRIDGWATER.

Witnesses H. I. KIMMEY, VVAI/rim BARR. 

